Can divider



R- E. J. NORDQUIST CAN DIVIDER April 24, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec.

5 I 17! w E INVENTOR.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST ATTORNEYS April 24, 1956 R. E. J. NORDQUIST CAN DIVIDER Filed Dec. 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 B B m Vw U n l A A mm My M M25 J @C 2 M M M j/ N. 52/U A M V L j 5 4 i M M M J F w o mm) m w fil mmT U U? 5 A ,H M M 1 A V Z Z a A Y O m $4 74 W m C 0 1 M1/. H A. J Q Z M M M ATTORNEYS 2,743,001 CAN DIVIDER Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Summit, N. J., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 10, 1954, Serial No. 474,498 Claims. (Cl. 198-66) where a single row of cans is delivered to the centrally disposed car loading door for distribution to both ends of the car so that loading can be effected simultaneously at both ends of the car. The present invention provides a can dividing device which can be used advantageously in such and other instances.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a magnetic can divider which operates to effectively distribute cans from a single inlet runway to a plurality of outlet runways, the cans normally being divided according to a desired pattern which is, however, automatically altered in response to an abnormal condition in any of the runways.

Another object is the provision of a can divider which incorporates a rotary electromagnetic can dividing turret which maintains a smooth and free flow of cans from the inlet runway to the outlet runways with a minimum of jarring and damage to the cans.

v is keyed to the shaft 22 and is Another object of the invention is the provision of such a can dividing mechanism wherein changes in the can distribution pattern may be automatically and smoothly eifected without stopping the rotation of the electromagnetic turret as long as at least one outlet runway is capable of receiving additional cans.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understoodfrom the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a can divider embodying 4 the instant invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, with shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken substanparts broken away and parts tially along the line 33 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a wiring diagram of the electrical apparatus used in the mechanism. r

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the .present invention the drawings illustrate a mechanism for receiving a single line of magnetizable cans C froma single inlet chute or runway 10 and dividing them into two lines which are discharged through a pair of outlet chutes or runways 12 and 14.

The cans C are fed from any suitable source of supply through the gravity runway 10, which preferably is conventionally formed of two pairs of angle iron guide rails 16 and 18 which confine the ends of the cans C to maintain or guide the cans in a predetermined path of travel;

travel and then divides them between the outlet runways 12 and 14 which are disposed adjacent the bottom of turret T. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the rotating turret T includes a main body member 20 which is keyed to one end of a shaft 22 and held thereon against outward move-- ment by a bolt 24. The shaft 22 is journalled in a bearing 26 which is formed in a bracket 28 bolted to an upright standard 30 which forms the main support for the dividing mechanism.

The shaft 22 preferably is driven by a motor 31 which is wired to a suitable source of electrical energy, such as a D. C. generator G (see Fig. 4). A pair of drive belts 32, 34 transmit the rotary motion of a motor pulley 36 to a free running pulley 38 which is mounted on the turret shaft 22. The pulley 38 preferably is' coupled to the shaft 22 through the medium of a combination electromagnetic clutch and brake unit (see Fig. 2) which is generally designated by the numeral E. The unit E is of conventional, commercially available design and may be of the type manufactured by the Warner Electric Brake and Clutch Company of Beloit, Wisconsin. Details of construction of essential elements of the unit E are disclosed During normal operation of the mechanism, current is supplied to the clutch magnet 42 to maintain the turret T I in continuous rotation. This current in the clutch circuit flows from the D. C; generator G (see Fig. 4) through wires 52, 54, 56, 58, a normally closed contact 60 of a control relay 62, a wire 64, brush 50, and collector ring 46, then passes through the magnet 42 and returns to' the 1 generator G through collector ring 44, brush 48, and wires 66, 68 and 70. The brake section of the unit E comprises an armature disc 72 (Fig. 2) which is secured to the shaft 22 and a I stationary magnet 74 which is bolted to the bracket 28.

The brake magnet 74 is of course normally deenergized but. is incorporated in a brake circuit which includes the generator G, wires 52, 54, 56, a normally open contact 76 of the relay 62, wire 78, the magnet 74, and wires 63,

70. The operation of the control relay 62 will be hereinafter explained. v

The turret body 20 (see Fig. 2) is provided on one side with an annular integral flange 80 and has arran-v nular plate 82 secured to its opposite side by bolts 83. The turret flange 8t) and the plate '82 are scalloped at equally spaced intervals to form'semi-circular can receiving pockets P (see also Fig. 1) which extend around.

the periphery of the turretT and are separated from each other by toothlike spurs 8-4. The radius of curvature of each of the pockets P preferably is slightly in excess of that of the cans C in order to prevent binding of the cans as they are received from the inlet runway 10 and discharged into the outlet runways 12 and 14.

A solid head of cans C is preferably maintained in the inlet chute 10 above the turret T in order to insure that the cans are properly positioned for reception in the turret pockets P. If this is not done, randomly fec l: incoming cans may be crushed by the pocket spurs 84.

Pa tentedApr. 24, 1956;

To maintain this head of cans C, provision is made for stopping the rotation of the turret T whenever the solid row of cans C in the runway drops below a desired level. For this purpose, a feeler finger 85 (see- Figs; 1 and 4) is pivotally mounted at 86 ona runway bracket 87, a suitable distance above the turret T.

The finger 85 is held in its outward position by the incoming cans C as long as there are cans in the runway 10 at this level. When the level of the cans C drops below the finger 85, a spring 88 moves the finger 85 into the runway between the guide rails 13. as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, thereby closing a normallyopen contact 89 of a switch 90 andlestablishing a can feed-in control circuit (see Fig. 4) which energizes the relay 62 to open the clutch circuit contact 60 and close the brake circuit contact 76, thereby stopping the rotation of the turret until such time as the level of the cans C in runway 10 again builds up.

The can feed-in control circuit includes the generator G, the wires 52 and 54, the contact 89, wires 91 and 92, the relay 62, and wires 93 and 70. If desired, a suitable time delay device may be incorporated in this feed-in control circuit to prevent too-frequent actuation of the control relay 62 as a result of spasmodic inflow of small groups of cans C into the runway 10.

Each pocket P of turret T is provided with an electro magnet M (Fig. 2) which is seated in a recess 94 formed in the turret body 20, and which, when energized, holds the can C in the pocket until it is positively stripped therefrom. The turret body and the plate 32 are made of nonmagnetic material in order to limit the field of attraction of each magnet M to its associated pocket P.

In order to provide for the desired division of cans C between the outlet runways 12 and 14, the electromagnetic pockets P are electrically divided into two separate sets, one of which, hereinafter designated by the letter A, is normally maintained in a deenergized condition while the other set, designated by the letter B, is normally energized. For the sake of clarity, the pockets P and magnets M of the normally deenergized set A will hereinafter be referred to as PA and MA, respectively, while those of the normally energized set B will be referred to as PB and MB.

The outlet runways 12 and 14 are similar in construction to the inlet runway 10, the inner side of runway 12 comprising a pair of spaced guide rails 95 while its outcr'side is formed by downward extensions 96 of the inlet runway guide rails 18. Between the runways 10 and 12, each rail 18 is formed with an arcuate section 97 which extends concentrically with the periphery of the turret T to prevent the cans C in the demagnetized pockets PA from falling out until they reach the runway 12. The arcuate section 97 merges into a reversely curved section 98 which curves gradually away from the turret T to the mouth of the runway 12, thereby permitting these unmagnetized cans to drop out of the pockets PA and enter runway 12. An elongated, U- shaped permanent magnet 99 (see Figs. 1 and 3) is secured between the rail sections 98 in order to insure that the cans C in the demagnetized pockets PA enter runway 12.

The cans in the energized pockets PB are retained in these pockets and carried across the upper end of outlet 12 and delivered to the second outlet runway 14, which is composed of spaced sets of rails 100 and 101. The outer rails 101 extend upwardly to straddle the lowermost portion of the turret T and positively strip the cans C from energized pockets PB. Since the magnetic attraction of each of the electromagnets M is greater than that of the permanent magnet 99, no cans will be discharged from the energized pockets PB into outlet runway 12.

It will be obvious that the composition of the pocket sets A and B can be varied to suit the various conditions which may be encountered during the operation of the dividing mechanism. Thus, if more cans are required in runway 12 than in runway 14, more pockets can be included in set A than in set B. Furthermore, the pockets of one set may be grouped together, or may alternate with the pockets of the other set.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, sixteen pockets are provided in the turret T and these are equally divided between sets A and B with the pockets of set A alternating regularly with those of set B. As a result, the cans are alternately fed into the runways 12 and 3.4 and are equally divided therebetween.

The electrical hookup of the magnets of sets A and B can be readily seen by referring to Figs. 2 and 4. In order to electrically separate the two sets, two collector rings 102, 103 are mounted on an insulating ring 104 which is set into an annular recess 106 formed in the turret body 20. A pair of cooperating brushes 108, 110 is mounted in a second insulating ring 112 which is secured to the bracket 28. One leadofeach magnet MA is connected to collector ring 102 while one lead of each magnet MB is connected to collector ring 103. The other lead of each magnet in both sets is grounded through the turret body 20 as at 113.

Thus, current flows from the D. C. generator G to the normally energized magnet set B through wire 52, thence through a normally closed contact 114 of a double contact switch 116 which is mounted on a bracket 118 ad jacent the runway 14 (see Fig. l) thence through a wire 120 to the brush 110. Here it passes into the collector and ring 103, thence through the magnets of set B and returns to the grounded side of the generator G.

The electrical circuit for the normally deenergized magnet set A is similar to that of set E, and includes the wire 52, a wire 122, a normally open contact 124 of a double contact switch 126 which is mounted on the bracket 118 adjacent the runway 12, a wire 12%, the brush 108 and collector ring 102.

Since the contacts 114 are normally closed and the contacts 124 normally open, it follows that magnet set B is normally energized and magnet set A is normally deenergized. However, an abnormal condition in either or both runways 12 and 14 may frequently be encountered which makes it imperative to temporarily stop the flow of cans into one or both of these runways. Such a condition may occur when the mechanism being supplied by one of these runways stops operating, thus causing the cans in the runway to backpile. When such a condition occurs in only one of the runways, it is desirable to divert all of the cans from the turret T into the other runway. To provide for this, a pair of detector devices 129, 130 (see Figs. 1 and 4) is provided adjacent the outlet runways 12, 14. Each such device consists of a bell crank 131 having a horizontal arm 132 and a vertical arm 134. The bell cranks 131 are pivotally mounted at 136 to position their horizontal arms 132 over the plungers of the switches 126 and 116 (see Fig. 1). A vertically adjustable permanent magnet 138 is secured to each vertical arm 134 so that it is positioned closely adjacent the path of travel of the cans C, being disposed between the outer guides 96 and 101 of the chutes 12 and 14, respectively.

The magnet 138 of each detector is adjusted so that there is no substantial movement of the bell crank 131 as long as the cans are moving in the runway in spaced relationship. However when a runway becomes filled with cans, the magnetic field becomes intensified sufficiently to cause the magnet 138 to move towards the cans C, thus swinging the vertical arm 134 inwardly and pressing the horizontal arm 132 downwardly against the plunger of its associated switch 116 or 126, as the case may be, thereby changing the position of the switch contacts.

As a consequence, when runway 12 becomes filled with cans, the detector device 129 operates to close the contacts 124 of the switch 126. This switch operating position of detector device 129 is shown is broken lines in Fig. 1. As a result, magnet set A becomes energized, and since magnet set B is already energized, all of the cans C are carried past the runway 12 and deposited in runway 14. Similarly, when runway 14 becomes filled, detector device 130 operates to open the normally closed contacts 114, thereby deenergizing the magnet set B and causing all cans to be deposited in runway 12. Such changes in the normal condition of the magnet sets A and B are, of course, only temporary, and the normal distribution pattern is restored as soon as the runways are cleared, thus permitting the switch contacts 114, 124 to resume their normal positions.

In the event both runways 12 and 14 become filled with cans, it is necessary to completely stop the flow of cans from the inlet runway 10. In the present embodiment of this invention, this is accomplished by stopping the turret T. To do this, a normally open second set of contacts 140, 142 of the switches 126, 116 respectively, are wired into the control circuit of relay 62 in parallel with the runway switch contact 89. This parallel relay control circuit includes the wire 52 which leads from one side of the generator G, the contacts 142 of switch 116, wire 144, the contacts 140 of the switch 126, wires 143, 92, the relay 62, wire 93 and the wire 70 which leads back to the other side of the generator G. When both runways 12 and 14 are filled, the normally open contacts 140, 142 are closed by the action of the detectors 129, 130 and the parallel relay control circuit is completed, thus energizing the relay 62, thereby opening the clutch contacts 60 and closing the brake contacts 76 to stop the rotation of the turret and the feeding of cans. This parallel relay control circuit is of course broken as soon as the condition of one of the runways 12, 14 returns to normal.

It should be understood that other types of devices for determining when the runways 12, 14 are filled may be substituted for the magnetic detector devices 129, 130. Other usable types include photo-electrically operated detectors similar to the one shown in V. T. Grover Patent 2,158,069, issued on May 16, 1939; also pressure responsive devices such as those disclosed in L. L. Jones Patent 1,784,354, issued on December 9, 1930.

It is obvious that the principles of this invention may be adapted for use with runways other than the vertical, gravity type disclosed in the present drawings. As one suggested modification, the turret T may be mounted on a vertical shaft in order to adapt it for use with horizontal inlet and outlet runways along which the cans may be propelled either by belts, cables, or chains. It is also obvious that the principles of this invention are not limited to a can divider having only a pair of outlet chutes, but may be applied to one wherein three, four, or even more outlet chutes are utilized.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A can dividing mechanism comprising in combination, a can inlet runway, a plurality of can outlet runways, a rotary turret for receiving cans from said inlet runway and delivering a portion of said cans to each of said outlet runways, detector means associated with each of said runways for detecting an abnormal condition therein, and means associated with said turret and operable in response to said detector means for conditioning said turret when an abnormal condition is detected in one of said outlet runways to divert said abnormally conditioned runways portion of said cans into another of said runways.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein means are provided for preventing the feeding of cans from said inlet runway when an abnormal condition exists in all of said outlet runways.

3. A can dividing mechanism comprising in combination, a rotary turret, a can inlet runway for feeding cans to said turret, a plurality of can receiving pockets formed in said turret, means in each of said pockets for holding the cans in said pockets, said pockets being divided into two sets with said holding means in said first set normally inoperative and said holding means in said second set normally operative, a first outlet runway for receiving cans from those pockets in which said holding means are inoperative, a second outlet runway for receiving cans from those pockets in which said holding means are operative, means for rendering said can holding means in said first set of pockets operative in response to an abnormal condition in said first runway to thereby cause all of said cans to be delivered to said second runway, and means for rendering said can holding means in said second set of pockets inoperative in response to an abnormal condition in said second outlet runway to thereby cause all of said cans to be delivered to said first outlet runway.

4. The mechanism of claim 3 wherein means are provided to stop the delivery of cans when an abnormal condition exists in both of said outlet runways.

5. A can dividing mechanism comprising in combination, a rotary turret, a can inlet runway for feeding cans to said turret, a plurality of magnetic pockets in said turret, said pockets being divided into two sets with the pockets of one set normally deenergized and the pockets of the other set normally energized, a first outlet runway for receiving cans from said deenergized pockets, a second outlet runway for receiving cans from said energized pockets, means for energizing said normally deenergized pockets when an abnormal condition exists in said first outlet runway so that all of said cans are delivered to said second outlet runway, and means for deenergizing said normally energized pockets when an abnormal condition exists in said second outlet runway so that all of said cans are delivered to said first outlet runway.

6. The mechanism of claim 5 wherein means are provided for stopping the delivery of cans when an abnormal condition exists in both of said outlet runways.

7. The mechanism of claim 6 wherein said last named means operates to stop the rotation of said turret.

8. The mechanism of claim 5 in which said turret contains an even number of pockets.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 in which said sets contain the same number of pockets.

10. The mechanism of claim 9 in which the pockets of one of said sets alternate with the pockets of the other of said sets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,649,184 Dodge Aug. 18, 1953 

